In Iowa, establishment GOP candidates play expectations game

But those Republican presidential candidates are devoting significant time and resources to the state in a battle to beat expectations -- and each other -- in the GOP caucus. Each hopes a surprisingly strong showing in Iowa will give him a boost heading into the New Hampshire primary, where the political landscape is more favorable to more traditional candidates.

The establishment expectations game has added intrigue to the final sprint to Iowa's Feb. 1 caucus. While the fight for first place has settled into a two-way race between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, some of the biggest unknowns surround the candidates for whom a loss in Iowa could still be viewed as a win.